Slip-roll-forming machine



June ,10, 1930. P. R. HAHNEMANN 1,763,304

SLIP ROLL FORMING MACHINE June 1o, 1930.

P. R. HAHNEMANN SLIP ROLL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE PAUL R. HAHNEMANN, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NIAGARA MACHINE AND TOOL WORKS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SLIP-ROLLFORMING MACHINE Application led May 9,

This invent-ion relates to that class of forming machines which are generally known as slip roll forming machines and which are primarily designed for bending a sheet of metal into the form of a pipe or tube which is subsequently closed at its 'longitudinal edges in any suitable manner for completing the tube or pipe forming operation. An apparatus or' this character is shown in U. S. 19 Patents ilo. 1,742,265, dated January 7, 1930,

and No. 1,7 35,243, dated November 12, 1929.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved machine of this character which permits the operator to manipulate the machine from the head end and also to move the upper or slip roll horizontally out of and into its operative position for removing the bent pipe or tube from this roll without undue manual labor, and also so organizing the machine that the driving gearing which operatively connects the lower and upper rolls is arranged at the tail end thereof and always remains in mesh during the operation of the machine, and also while the slip roll is being opened and closed, thereby avoiding disarrangement of the gears and interference with the free closing of the roll after the bent pipe or tube has been removed therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a slip roll forming machine embodying these improvenients.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken von line 2&2 Fig. 1 Viewed from the tail end of the machine.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine viewed from the head end thereof.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on line l, el Fig. 1.

Figure 5 isla view similar to Fig. el with the upper or slip roll and associated parts removed therefrom.l

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal sections 4taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2.

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 8, 8 Fig. 1.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical longi-V tudinal section similar to the right hand or 1928. Serial No. 276,325.

head end of the machine, shown in Fig. 1 but illustrating the modified form of the locking mechanism `for holding the slip roll in its operative position.

Figure 10 is a cross section taken on line 10,10Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a View similar to Fig. 10, but showing the locking device of the upper or slip roll withdrawn from the head standard of the frame.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing another modied form of the locking mechanism for retaining the upper slip roll in its working position.

Figure 13 is a cross section taken on line is, is Fig. r2; Y

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the bearing and locking sleeve shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and also the locking pin which is associated therewith.

Similar' characters of referenceindicate like parts in the several views of the draw- Although the main frame of this machine may be variously constructed the same prefa longitudinal base 10, a head standard 11 rising from the head end of the base, and a tail standard 12 rising from the tail end of this base.

Mounted on this frame is a set olE rolls whereby the operation ot' bending a sheet of metal into the tubular form shown at 13 in Fig. v8 is accomplished, these `rolls comprising a lowerI horizontal driving roll 14 arranged lengthwise of the machine, an upper horizontal slip roll 15 arranged lengthwise above the driving roll and a rear horizontal bending roll 16' arranged lengthwise in rear of the pass between the lower and upper rolls.

The lower roll is head and tail ends in bearings formed in vertically movable bearing` blocks 17 18 which are guided in vertical slots 19 and 2O formed in the head and tail standards of the frame and the position of this roll relative to the uupper and rear rolls may be adjusted vertically by means of adjusting screws 21, 22 working in the lower front parts of the head journaled adjacent to its and tail standards and operatively engaging their upper ends with the undersides of the bearing block 17 and 18.

The rear roll is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings formed in bearing blocks 23, 23, sliding in inclined guideways Qet and Q on the head and tail standards ot' the frame and adjusted with reference to the bearings of the other rollers by means ot inclined adjusting screws 26, 27 working in threaded openings in the rear parts of the head and tail standards and engaging with the lower ends of the bearing blocks 23, 23 respectively.

The upper roll is pivotally mounted so as to be capable ot' swinging its head into and out of its operative position and thereby open the machine so that the finished or bent metal pipe or tube may be removed from the slip roll. For this purpose the slip roll is pivotally mounted at its tail end so that it is capable ot turning about a vertical axis which is arranged adjacent to the tail end of the lower and rear rolls.

The preferred construction of the means whereby this is accomplished comprises an upright swiveling casing or housing 28 which is provided on the inner and outer sides of its upper part with bearings 29, 30 in which the reduced tail end of the upper slip roll is journaled, as best shown in Fig. 6, this casing or housing being arranged adjacent to the outer side of the tail standard of the .trame and pivotally supported on the frame by means of upper and lower pivot screws 31, 32 working in threaded openings on the upper part of the tail standard and the adjacent tail portion ot the base and having conicai inner ends 33 which engage with correspondingly shaped sockets in the upper and lower ends of the swiveling housing or casing as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

These screws permit of adjusting this housing vertically as much as may be necessary when setting up the machine or at other times, and after adjustment these screws are held in position by clamping nuts 34 mounted on the screws and engaging the adjacent part ot thel main frame.

Below that part of the swiveling housing which receives the tail end of the upper slip roll, this housing' is provided on its inner side with an opening 35 through which the reduced tail end of the lower or driving roll projects into the housing, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

Nithin the housing is arranged a t 'ain of compensating gearing whereby motion is transmitted from the lower driving roll to the upper slip roll, which gears are so arranged that they maintain a constant driving' connection between these rolls regardless of whether the machine is in operation or the slip roll is being opened to permit the removal of a bent tube or pipe. For this purpose this set ot gears comprises a lower driving gear wheel 36 mounted on the tail end of the lower roll 11 within the housing 28, an upper driven gear wheel 37 secured to the tail end ot the upper roll within the housing, and a pair of intermeshing intermediate gear wheels 38, 39 arranged one above the other within the housing 28 and pivotally mounted thereon by means of upper and lower pivot pins 40 and 41, these intermediate gear wheels being preferably arranged in the front part of this housing, and the upper intermediate gear wheel. 38 meshing with the front side of the driven gear wheel 37, and the lower intermediate gear wheel 39 meshing with the front side of the driving gear wheel 36, as best shown in Fig. Q.

As the upper slip roll is moved horizontally from its operative position, shown by full lines in Fig. 6, to its inoperative position. shown by dotted lines in the same figure, the swivel housing is rocked from the position shown by full lines in Figs. 6 and 'T to thc position shown by dotted lines in the same igure, but during such movement the lower intermediate gear wheel 39 merely slides laterally with its teeth on those of the driving gear wheel 36, without however movingl out ot mesh or becoming disconnected therefrom.

It therefore follows that the driving connection between the upper and lower roll by these means is constantlyv maintained during the horizontal movement of the slip roll when opening and closing the machine, thereby avoiding the necessity of paying any attention to these gears as would be the case if these gears were actually disengaged during the opening of the machine, in order to restore them to the proper position for reengaging them, if during the opening movement of the machine the teeth of opposing gear wheels were out ot line with each other.

It is therefore possible to operate this machine more conveniently and with greater expedition and thereby materially increase the output of the same.

In order to render the gear wheels of the compensating gearing accessible tor insp -c tion, repairing or lubrication. an opening is provided on the front side of the housingQS. which opening is normally closed by means of a cover 42 which may be secured to this housing by means of screws which are shown. or by any other suitable means.

By constructing this swiveling support for the train of compensating gears in the form of a housing the same performs the additional function of an enclosure for these gears so as to render the machine sater and prevent the operators from becoming injured by ge ting caught in these gears. Y' l Vhen the slip roll is in its operative position over the lower roll the head end thereot is locked on the head standard ot the trame so as to avoid displacement of the parts. Various forms ot locking or holding devices Cil for this purpose may be employed, that shown in Figs. l, 3, 4, 5, 6 being constructed as follows lVithin the upper front part of the head standard ll the same is provided with a horizontal slot 43 which opens through the front side of this standard and is of the same width as the diameter of the reduced head end 44 oi' the upper roll so that upon moving this end into the inner end of this slot, this roll will be held against vertical movementtherein. This head end of the upper roll may also be locked against outward movement on the head standard by a bearing sleeve 45 which is movable lengthwise on the reduced head end 44 of the upper roll l5 and adapted to be engaged with a counter bore 46 formed on the outer side of the head standard 11 around theV inner end of the locking slot 43. By this means a portion of the locking slot 43 is converted into a key hole slot and as the sleeve 45 is of larger diameter than the width of the front part of the slot 43 this sleeve 45 operates to prevent the head end of the upper roll from being` withdrawn from the locking slot 43 of the head standard.

For the purpose of releasing the head end of the upper roll and permitting the same to be moved horizontally forward for opening the machine and removing the bent tube, the sleeve 45 is withdrawn out of engagement from the counter bored recess orlsocket 46. To permit of moving this sleeve 45 into and Y out of engagement with the recess 46 the outer end of this sleeve is provided with a knurled extension 47 which serves as a handle which may be grasped by the operator for manipulating the same. Outward longitudinal movement of the sleeve 45 on the head end of the upper roll is limited so as to prevent complete withdrawal thereof by means of a stop pin 48 arranged on this end of the upper roll and adapted to engage with the bottom of a recess 49 in the outer end of the handle 47 on this sleeve.

This'sleeve 45 is preferably'litted comparatively snug in the counter bored recess 46 so 'that the same, when engaging with this recess, forms a bearing in which the head end of the upper roll turns. The periphery of this sleeve 45 is preferably made of ball-shaped or tapering form so as to facilitate its movement into and out of the counter bored recess 46 and still maintain a good tit between the same and its recess so as to properly support the head end of the upper roll.

If desired the recess in the standard which receives the reduced head end portion ot the upper roll may be constructed in its entirety in the form of a key hole slot, as shown in Figs. 9, l0 and ll, in which case the narrow front portion 50 of this slot is made just wide enough to permit the narrow part of the upper roll i5 to move into and out of the wide 'rear part 5l thereof. lVhile the head end of this upper roll is within the wide rear part of this key hole slot, the same may be locked in this operative position by means of a locking and supporting sleeve 52 which is movable lengthwise on the head end of the upper roll sothat the same may be engaged with the wide part of this key hole slot, as shown by full lines in Fig. 9, or the same may be disengaged therefrom, as shown by dotted lines in the same iigure.

This sleeve 52 is also provided on its outer sid-e with a tubular handle 53 and its longitudinal movement is limited by means of a stop pin 54 arranged on the outer part of the head end oi the upper roll l5 and adapted to engage with the bottom of a recess 55 in this handle.

If desired the inner enlarged part of the key hole slot may be made of inwardly tapering form, as shown at 56 in Fig. l2, and the sleeve 57, which supports the head end of the upper roll l5 and secures the same in its operative position on the head standard ll, may be of correspondingly tapering form so that when this sleeve 57 is pushed into the conical recess 56, as shown in Fig. l2, the head ,end of the u p per roll will be reliably locked This into

on the head standard of the frame. conical looking sleeve may be shifted and out of its operative position by a knurled 9 tubular handle 58 on the outer end thereof and its outward mov-ement may be limited by means of a stop pin 59 adapted to engage with the bottom ot' a recess 60 in the outer end of this handle.

In order to avoid displacement of this conical sleeve within the conical portion 56 of the key hole slot a retaining device is pro` vided which preferably consists of a bayonet or L-shaped slot formed on the periphery of the conical sleeve and consisting of a longitudinal portion 61 and a` transverse portion 62 arranged at the outer end of the longitudinal portion and a retaining pin 63 arranged on the upper part of the head standard ll and adapted to be received by this bayonet slot.

Upon bringing the longitudinal portion of this bayonet slot in line with the pin 63, as shown in Fig. 13, the conical sleeve 57 may be pushed inwardly into engagement with the conical recess 56 and then this sleeve may be turned for bringing the transverse outer part 62 of the bayonet slot in engagement with the retaining pin 63, as shown in Fig. 14, thereby holding this sleeve in its operative position.

These various forms of locking devices for the head end of the up )er slip roll of the machine permitA of quickl7 and conveniently" locking or unlocking this end of the slip roll and while the parts are in their operative position the Vslip roll is held firmly in place. Moreover, these several locking devices are very simple and compact in construction, f

easy to operate and not liable to get out ot order. The machine may be operated in any suitable mannerfor instance by a handle (-lapplied to the head end of the lower driving roll lil.

l claim as inv invention:

l. A slip roll forming machine comprising a main trame having a standard at its head end which is provided with a forwardly opening key-hole slot, a lower roll mounted on said trame7 an upper roll movable with its head end into and out of said slot, a rear roll arranged in rear of said lower and upper rolls, and a sleeve movable lengthwise on the head end ot said upper roll and into and out olE engagement with the enlarged inner end ot said key-hole slot.

2. A slip roll forming machine comprising a main trame having a standard at its head end which is provided with a forwardly opening key-hole slot, the front part of which is narrow and the rear part ot enlarged and conical form, a lower roll mounted on the main frame, an upper roll movable with its head end into and out of said key-hole slot7 a rear roll arranged in rear of said lower and upper rolls, and a sleeve movable lengthwise on the head end ot said upper roll and having a conical inner end adapted to engage with said enlarged inner conical part of the keyhole slot.

3. A slip roll forming machine comprising a main 'trame having a standard at its head end which is provided with a forwardly opening key-hole slot, the front part of which is narrow and the rear part of enlarged and conical form, a lower roll mounted on the main frame, an upper roll movable with its head end into and out of said key-hole slot, a rear roll arranged in rear of said lower and upper rolls, a sleeve movable lengthwise on the head end of said upper roll and having a conical inner end adapted to engage with lsaid enlarged inner conical part of the keyhole slot,v said conical part of the sleeve having a bayonet groove on its periphery, and a pin on said head end standard adapted to be received by said bayonet groove.

-l-. A slip roll forming machine comprising` a inain trame, a lower roll mounted on the traine, an upper roll adapted to swing horizontally into and out of its operative position, a rear roll arranged in rear of the lower and upper rolls, a swiveling support pivoted to turn about a vertical axis adjacent to the tail end of said rolls and provided with a bearing ior the tail end of said upper roll, and gearing operatively connecting said rolls including a driving gear wheel secured to the tail end et said lower roll, a driven gear wheel secured to the tail end ot said upper roll, and a pair of intermeshing intermediate gear wheels arranged one above the other, the upper intermediate gear wheel meshing with said driven gear wheel and the lower intermediate gear wheel meshing with said driving gear wheel and the swiveling support forming a housing for said gear wheels.

5. A. slip roll forming machine comprising a main trame, a lower roll mounted on the frame, an upper roll adapted to swing horizontally into and out of its operative position, a rear roll arranged in rear of the lower and upper rolls, a swiveling support pivoted to turn about a vertical axis adjacent to the tail end of said rolls and provided with a bearing for the tail end oi said upper roll, and gearing` operatively connecting said rolls including a driving gear wheel secured to the tail end ot said lower roll, a driven gear wheel secured to the tail end oit said upper roll, and a pair of intermeshing intermediate gear wheels arranged one above the other and mounted on the swiveling support, the upper intermediate gear wheel meshing with the front side of said driven gear wheel and the lower intermediate gear wheel meshing with the front side ot said driving gear wheel, and said swiveling support forming a housing which encloses said gear wheels.

ln testimony whereof I hereby afliX my nature.

PAUL R. HAHNEMANN. 

